Unlike library subject cataloging, which follows a strict set of guidelines (e.g., Library of Congress subject headings), tagging is completely unstructured and freeform, allowing users to create connections between data anyway they want.
In the past few weeks, we’ve already explored a few sites — Flickr and LibraryThing to name two — that allow users to take advantage of tagging.
This week, in addition to exploring Technorati tagging, we want to also take at popular social bookmarking site called Del.icio.us (typed in as http://del.icio.us/). Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking manager which allows you to bookmark a web page and add tags to categorize your bookmarks.
Many users find that the real power of Del.icio.us is in the social network aspect, which allows you to see how other users have tagged similar links and also discover other websites that may be of interest to you. You can think of it as peering into another users’ filing cabinet, but with this powerful bookmarking tool each user's filing cabinet helps to build an expansive knowledge network.
For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at Del.icio.us and learn about this popular bookmarking tool.
Discovery Resources:
- Otter Group Del.icio.us tutorial (8 min video) - Highly recommended!!!
- Us.ef.ul: A beginners guide to Del.icio.us
- Several Habits of wildly successful Del.icio.us users
Discovery Exercise:
- View the 8 minute Del.icio.us tutorial to get a good overview of its features.
- Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool.
Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere?
OPTIONAL: If you’re up to the challenge, create a Del.icio.us account for yourself and discover how this useful bookmarking tool can replace your traditional browser bookmark list. You might even want to explore Del.icio.us’ latest addition, a network badge.
(Psst! see it over there at the end of the navigation sidebar)
NOTE: If you do setup a Del.icio.us account, here’s a quick word about the Del.icio.us Buttons. On PCs that have the toolbars locked down, these will install as options in your browser bookmarks. Use the “Post to my Del.icio.us” link to add the current webpage to your account (you may need to log in). Use the “My Del.icio.us” link to view your online account.
Share your results of this Exercise here!
3 comments:
Tagging will be very useful in any kind of searching. I can see myself using this.
I can see were tagging can be quite useful. I will have set up an account on my home computer.
Using tagging is a very easy way to help with setting up better searches.
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